Blake had an amazing debut tonight, he did a little bit of everything and even hit the game winner when it looked like the Lakers may let one slip away. He's a perfect fit for the Lakers and I know we're going to see a lot more from him during the season as Fisher is kept on the bench for longer and longer stretches of time.

The hunger he brings to this team can't be understated, in his post-game interview in the locker room he made it clear how he wished he was out there getting a ring with his teammates, and I know that will drive him and also help inspire the other Lakers who already have rings to continue to play hard and not become complacent.

"When plunder becomes a way of life for a group of men living together in society, they create for themselves in the course of time a legal system that﻿ authorizes it and a moral code that glorifies it." - Frederic Bastiat

Blake was great but I gotta give props to Phil for FINALLY STICKING WITH THE LINEUP THAT WAS PLAYING THE BEST. Phil has always been known to revert to his starting 5 or his default closing 5 in the 4th regardless of who's playing well, but he changed things up last night and went with who was playing best. Thank you....finally.

nameant wrote:Blake was great but I gotta give props to Phil for FINALLY STICKING WITH THE LINEUP THAT WAS PLAYING THE BEST. Phil has always been known to revert to his starting 5 or his default closing 5 in the 4th regardless of who's playing well, but he changed things up last night and went with who was playing best. Thank you....finally.

Love me some Steve Blake. Loved the way he played in Portland, and it was obvious from the get go that he would be a nice fit here.

He was in the wrong spot a couple of times out there and it looks like he rarely looks to finish at the basket when he gets in the lane, but his post entry passes are excellent and that three ball is money. He should help out our 2nd unit immensly.

gill wrote:Blake was awesome last night on both ends of the floor. He and Shannon pretty much keyed that comeback. Such a sigh of relief compared to Farmar. I like how Phil kept him on at the end of the game.

Barnes had as much a role in the comeback as those two. The guy was everywhere, getting rebounds, trapping, setting picks, cutting, and most importantly filling the running lanes correctly on the break by going out wide enough to take a defender with him. He also pretty much took Martin out of that 4th quarter while Brown and Blake took Lee and Brooks.

^^ Agreed. I like BDG's nickname for those three - the Killer B's. I'm sticking with that. Those guys did exactly what you would hope your bench would do: inject some energy and a real spark. They did that on both ends.

Mitch cannot be praised enough for what he accomplished this off-season. Stealing Blake away from 5 other suitors for less than full MLE money, re-signing Shannon Brown, and acquiring Barnes and Ratliff for peanuts when the opportunity presented itself. Awesome moves. Just as important was the decision to let Farmar go and move on when it was clear that he wasn't a good fit for the future.

While this may be premature, I am hoping that they just let Sasha expire this year and use some of his salary to lock down Barnes for a couple more years in the off season. I sense that he could be a real contributor for us off the bench for the remainder of this current run with Kobe, Pau, Lamar and Artest. As Kobe ages, it's great to have a guy off the bench that you can bring in who will hustle and play the hard-nosed D that it takes to win championships. He's a cheap contract right now, but he will need to get paid a bit more after this I believe. I hope we retain him unlike what happened with Boston and Posey. Ever since they let him walk they have not been the same team defensively. Barnes is a very similar type of role player - or at least I hope that he will be.

What lot of fun it should be this year to contrast Blake with Farmar. Unselfish play, post entry passes, good 3 shooter, decent defense, etc... all that stuff that mostly wasn't in Farmar's game. Yes there were times when he goofed his place in the tri, but he's an intelligent player so I expect him to really get it as the season goes on.

I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence:Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--I took the one less traveled by,And that has made all the difference.

KHRIS wrote:Great finally seeing a true point guard playing for the Lakers. I cant believe Phil left him in the game during the 4th quarter. Seems like Phil trusts Blake more now then he ever did Farmar.

gninerfan21 wrote:Blake is non-deserving of this thread.. he hasn't done anything for the Lakers.

when I wrote that he hadnt done anything..

gninerfan21 wrote:(Disclaimer- Don't bump this post 8 months from now saying I'm wrong, I think he'll be great I just think its too early)

He won't start, but he will get the lion's share of minutes which is what Phil wanted Farmar to do. That way Fish stays fresh for the playoffs and Blake gets a better grip on the offense and clutch situations during the year.

I think Blake will get situational starts, just like last night he got a situational closing game. He'll slowly phase into the starting rotation, but I'm not sure he's going to out right grab the spot this season.

KHRIS wrote:Great finally seeing a true point guard playing for the Lakers. I cant believe Phil left him in the game during the 4th quarter. Seems like Phil trusts Blake more now then he ever did Farmar.

gninerfan21 wrote:Blake is non-deserving of this thread.. he hasn't done anything for the Lakers.

when I wrote that he hadnt done anything..

gninerfan21 wrote:(Disclaimer- Don't bump this post 8 months from now saying I'm wrong, I think he'll be great I just think its too early)

I even threw in a disclaimer..

You failed bro. It took all but one game for Blaker. All of us could see in the pre season that he was light years ahead of Farmar and warranted an appreciation thread even if it was pre season. Heck just by watching that scrimmage video of practice against the starters had us appreciating.

WOW, not THAT is what I call a first game. I love this guy already.And btw, I doubt he starts, he fuels the bench in a way fisher couldn't, but he will play more than fisher.

Every time I begin to ask, "Is he really as great as I think he is?" ...He proves that he is.Every time I begin to wonder...He proves it...That is why I won't lose hope in him.You know who I am talking about.